Investigation of x-ray energy characteristics in x-ray fluorescence applications using dual pyroelectric crystals

The pyroelectric effect enables the generation of a strong electric field, which can lead to the emission and acceleration of electrons, ultimately resulting in x-ray production in combination with a metallic target. This study presents a systematic experimental investigation on the optimization of pyroelectric x-ray sources for material analysis. Lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) and lithium niobate (LiNbO3) crystals were examined to evaluate the influence of working pressure, crystal geometry, target material, and target arrangement on x-ray intensity and end point energy. Optimized parameters enhanced the x-ray output. By changing from a single crystal to a double crystal configuration, the measured end point energy is increased from 51 to 70 keV, representing a 37% enhancement in the end point energy. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) measurements of the steel samples were performed with an acquisition time of 600 s. Validation through XRF measurements confirmed faster acquisition for sufficient intensities and improved analytical precision. Upon introducing a second crystal, the spectra acquired during the 600 s cooling phase indicated that the Fe Kα intensity increased from 5000 to 10 000 counts. These results provide a foundation for the design of a compact, low power, and energy efficient pyroelectric x-ray source.